We’ve Been Waiting a Lifetime for the Details: NWSL Releases Broadcast Details

Nearly two months after the initial announcement, the NWSL and Lifetime have finally released the details of their TV deal.

During the 22-match regular season, Lifetime will broadcast one game a week on Saturday afternoons as well as the post-season–two semifinal matches and the championship. This deal exceeds the NWSL’s previous arrangement with Fox Sports in 2016, where six games in the last weeks of the regular season and the three post-season matchups were broadcast on their channels.

The big news included in today’s release isn’t the number of matches being broadcast or the inclusion of the post-season but information regarding the talent who will be calling the Game of the Week matches. Lifetime has brought on Jenn Hildreth for the play-by-plays while former USWNT midfielder Aly Wagner will serve as analyst. Dalen Cuff will host the pregame show and be on the sidelines and Kate Markgraf will be available for select appearances.

For those wondering about the streaming availability of the Saturday Game of the Week, Lifetime and the NWSL stated that:

“The NWSL Game of the Week on Lifetime will also be available for live and on-demand streaming via the Lifetime iOS and Android apps and online at MyLifetime.com. In addition, international fans outside of the United States can watch live and on-demand streaming of the Game of the Week via NWSLsoccer.com.”

One of the biggest worries coming out of the news for this deal was international fans ability to see games. This information seems as though it will help to relive that worry. However, no information about the streaming of any non-Game of the Week matches has been released yet.

The breakdown of which matches will be broadcast are, not surprisingly, almost exclusively taking place at stadiums that also host MLS or NASL teams. This is likely a cost-saving measure, as those stadiums are likely already equipped with the telecommunications infrastructure to produce and air broadcast-ready game content and media packages. It will be interesting to see what effect this has on the non-affiliated teams in the league, whether it will inspire the upgrade of those stadiums not featured in the Lifetime coverage this season.

Home Team

Games at Home

Seattle Reign FC

1

Sky Blue FC

1

Chicago Red Stars

3

Houston Dash

3

North Carolina Courage

4

Orlando Pride

5

Portland Thorns FC

5

As for who will be on TV as the home or away team? It’s a pretty lopsided split.